Life long Phillips County resident Eldon LeRoy Gebhard passed away July 3, 2011, at 89 years and 4 months. He was born February 25, 1922, to Elmer and Florence (Haines) Gebhard on the family farm west of Long Island, KS. He grew up on the farm and graduated from Elk Creek country school. He was an active member of the Prairie Dog Valley 4-H Club until he entered the armed services in 1942. After 3 years and 4 months in the Air Force, which included a year in India with the 12th Bomb Group, he returned to farming.

On September 14, 1947, he married LaVada Brees at Phillipsburg. To this union two daughters were born. On May 4, 1980, he married Irma Lee Burdge in Ashland, KS.


He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Marvin, and his wife LaVada. He is
survived by his wife Irma Lee, two daughters, Teresa Ilene Albert and husband Tim, Smith Center, KS, Mary Coleen Malek, Scott City, KS, two step children, Robert Burdge and wife Nancy, Pagosa Springs, CO, and Linda Wilson, Omaha, NE, 6 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren.

He served on the Long Island township board and Long Island school board. He drove a school bus for 16 years and drove a semi trailer truck which Irma Lee shared for 6 years. This was a very enjoyable time in his life. They attended a number of reunions of the China, Burma, India veteran's organization all over the U.S.A. and also 12th Bomb Group reunions. They had been to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and cruises to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, and Alaska.

Eldon was baptized in the Lutheran Church and later became a member of the United
Methodist Church in Long Island. He was a member of the Roy C. Goodrich American Legion Post #304 in Long Island for 65 years. He was devoted to family and friends and ready to lend a helping hand to those who needed it. He will be missed by many relatives and friends. Eldon passed away peacefully at home with his family present.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 7, at 10:30 a.m. in the Long Island United Methodist Church with Pastor Dean Gilbert officiating and military honors by the Long Island American Legion Post #304. There will be no burial since his body was donated to the KU Medical Center.

Friends may sign his register book Wednesday from noon – 9 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel in Phillipsburg, KS.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Long Island Community Center, the Long Island American Legion Post #304, or the Long Island United Methodist Church.